Shaft Driving Tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for driving a shaft within an apertured member, the tool incorporating a segmented sleeve having upper, lower, and medial segments, each segment having upper and lower ends, a hollow bore of the lower segment being helically threaded; a shaft biasing screw mounted within the lower segment&#39;s hollow bore, upper and lower joints, the upper joint connecting the upper end of the screw with the upper segment, and the lower joint connecting the medial segment with the lower segment; a first gear attached to the upper segment; a support frame attached to the medial segment; a second gear mounted rotatably upon the support frame, the second gear being positioned for rotating the first gear; a rotary power input stem fixedly attached to the second gear; and a clamp or hook arms adapted for positioning the apertured member beneath the screw&#39;s shaft biasing lower end.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to gear pulling and shaft driving apparatus whichare adapted for engaging and grasping an apertured member such as a gearor an axle mount, and for axial driving against a shaft or axle fixedwithin such aperture, such apparatus performing the function of removingthe axle or shaft from the aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly constructed and configured jack screw actuated gear pullers andshaft driving tools are often mechanically cumbersome and are difficultto operate. Where such a tool must be operated within a tight localeoffering a limited working space, the tool may be virtually impossibleto operate. The instant inventive shaft driving tool solves orameliorates such problems by providing a multiply segmented sleeve whichincorporates a drive gear at an upper sleeve segment, which incorporatesa rotatably supported drill actuated gear upon a medial sleeve segment,and which incorporates shaft engaging structures mounted upon a lowersleeve segment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant inventive tool is preferably configured and adapted fordriving against and removing a shaft of the type which is typicallyreceived within and mounted within an apertured member. Exemplaryapertured members include a toothed gear and an annular axle mountingshoulder or step of a rotating element such as a fan.

A first structural component of the instant inventive tool comprises amultiply segmented sleeve having an upper segment, a lower segment, anda medial segment, each sleeve segment having upper and lower ends, andhaving a hollow bore. The sleeve's upper segment may be positioned abovethe upper end of the sleeve's medial segment or, in a preferredembodiment, the upper sleeve segment is nestingly received within theupper end of the hollow bore of the medial segment. Also in thepreferred embodiment, the lower segment of the sleeve is nestinglyreceived within the lower end of the hollow bore of the medial section,such receipt forming a lower rotation stopping pin-and-socket jointcomponent of the inventive tool. In the preferred embodiment, theannular wall of the hollow bore of the sleeve's lower segment ishelically threaded, presenting female screw threads.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprises ascrew shaft which is helically threadedly mounted within the lowersegment's helically threaded hollow bore. In the preferred embodiment,an extreme lower end of such screw component is adapted for impingingagainst or biasing against an exposed end surface of a shaft or axlewhich is to be driven and removed by the inventive tool.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprisesan upper joint which attaches or interconnects the upper end of thescrew with the sleeve's upper segment. In the preferred embodiment, suchjoint comprises an upper non-circular pin-and-socket joint, wherein thepin component of such joint comprises a non-circular head of the screwshaft, and wherein the socket component of such joint comprises amatching or mating non-circular cylindrical void adapted for slidablyreceiving such head. Other differently configured joints which maysimilarly interconnect the upper end of the screw shaft and the uppersleeve segment are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprisesthe lower joint which mounts the lower end of the sleeve's medialsegment upon an upper end of the sleeve's lower segment. Similarly withthe non-circular rotation resisting configuration of the upper joint,the sleeve's lower joint is preferably non-circularly configured forresisting rotations of the sleeve's lower segment with respect to themedial segment. In a preferred embodiment, such non-circularconfiguration forms a lower or second pin-and-socket joint wherein thejoint's pin half comprises travel slots which open radially outwardly atthe upper end of the medial segment, and wherein the joint's socket halfcomprises the downwardly opening concavity of the hollow bore of themedial segment, such commonly presenting inwardly extending lugs orprotuberances which are positioned for rotation stopping engagementswith such travel slots.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprises afirst gear or drive gear which is fixedly attached to the upper end ofthe sleeve's upper segment, such gear preferably having a verticalrotation axis which substantially coincides with a vertical rotationaxis of the sleeve's upper segment. In a preferred embodiment, the firstgear is peripherally toothed for engagement with a powered pinion gearor second gear, such gear being described below.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprises asupport frame which is fixedly and rigidly attached to the sleeve'smedial segment, preferably at such segment's upper end. In the preferredembodiment, the support frame is formed and configured as a gear trainsupporting and enclosing housing.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprisesthe second gear or pinion gear, such gear being rotatably mounted uponthe frame for, upon powered rotation of the second gear, engagement withand rotation of the first gear.

A further structural component of the instant inventive tool comprises arotary power input shaft or stem. In the preferred embodiment, such stemis adapted for secure attachment to the rotary drive chuck of anelectric drill or socket driver. In the preferred embodiment, a lowerend of such stem is fixedly mounted axially to the second gear or piniongear, such stem protruding upwardly and outwardly from the frame orhousing component.

Further structural components of the instant inventive tool comprisemeans for holding the apertured member immediately beneath the screw'sshaft biasing lower end. In a suitable embodiment, such means areconfigured to present an annular clamp which is adapted to nestinglyreceive an axle mounting shoulder or step of the type which is commonlypresent at the hub of an axle driven fan. Suitably, such means mayalternatively comprise a circumferential array of pivoting hook armswhich may radially pivot for engagements with peripheral edge of a gearto be pulled off of an axle. Similarly with the function of the abovedescribed annular clamp, such hook arms may effectively hold a gear inaxial alignment immediately beneath the lower biasing end of the screwshaft.

In operation of the instant inventive tool, and assuming that the tool'sprovided means for holding an apertured member comprises an annularclamp, such clamp may be initially secured and attached to, for example,an annular axle shaft mounting shoulder of the type commonly presentupon the hub of a scirocco fan. To achieve such attachment, the lowersleeve segment of the instant inventive tool may be easily andconveniently inserted into and clamped within the air intake port ofsuch fan. Such holding means preferably presents a circumferential arrayof set screws which may be tightened for securely clamping against suchaxle mount shoulder. Upon tightening of the set screws, the lowersegment of the tool is advantageously securely mounted upon theexemplary scirocco fan.

Thereafter, the chuck of an electric drill may be securely attached tothe tool's rotary power input stem.

Thereafter, the medial segment may be slidably engaged with the lowersegment while the upper segment simultaneously engages with the upperend of the screw.

Thereafter, the electric drill may be operated to turn the stemcomponent in a counter clockwise direction. Such drill operationsimultaneously rotates the second gear or pinion gear, automaticallycounter-rotating such gear in the clockwise direction. Such first gearrotation correspondingly rotates the upper segment of the multiplysegmented sleeve, and simultaneously turns the screw shaft whose head isengaged pin-and-socket fashion with the upper segment.

Simultaneous rotation of the helical threads of the male screw shaftwithin the female helical threads of the hollow bore of the sleeve'slower segment downwardly drives the screw shaft, advantageously causingsuch shaft's biasing lower end to impinge against the exposed end of theaxle shaft which is mounted within the fan's shoulder mount. Continueddrill actuated operation of the tool progressively drives the screwshaft against such axle shaft, advantageously driving the axle shaft outof the shoulder mount.

Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of atool which incorporates structures as described above, and whicharranges those structures in relation to each other in manners describedabove, for the achievement of and performance of beneficial functions asdescribed above.

Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instantinvention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review ofthe Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a side view of the instant inventive tool.

FIG. 2 redepicts the structure of FIG. 1, the view of FIG. 2 showing thetool rotated clockwise 90° about a vertical axis.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, as indicated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an alternative sectional view, as indicated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 redepicts the structure of FIG. 1, the view of FIG. 5 showingalternative mechanical means for holding a shaft bearing aperturedmember.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Drawing FIGS. 1-4, apreferred embodiment of the instant inventive tool for driving a shaftis referred to generally by Reference Arrow 1. The tool 1 comprises amultiply segmented sleeve which is referred to generally by ReferenceArrow 3, such sleeve 3 comprising a lower segment 2, an upper segment18, and a medial segment 14.

The sleeve's lower segment 2 preferably has a vertically extendinghollow bore 4 having an upper opening 8. The wall of the lower end ofsuch bore 4 preferably presents female helical threads 6. In thepreferred embodiment, the upper end of the sleeve's lower segment 2presents a pair of vertically extending travel slots 12 which openradially outwardly. Such slots 12 advantageously non-circularlyconfigure the lower segment's upper end to function as a rotationresisting pin half of a first or lower pin-and-socket joint. Thesleeve's medial segment 14 is preferably closely fitted for slidingupward receipt of the upper end of the lower segment 2, such medialsleeve segment preferably presenting radially inwardly protrudingrotation stopping lugs 16 which extend into and engage with the travelslots 12.

The upper segment 18 of the sleeve 3 preferably has a hollow bore 7which has a lower downward opening 20. The peripheral wall of such bore7 is non-circularly configured, preferably presenting a series of facesor facets 19. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeve's upper segment 18is adapted for rotation within and with respect to the medial segment14, such adaptation suitably comprising a lower rotary bearing 38. As analternative to the depicted nesting receipt of sleeve upper segment 18within sleeve medial segment 14, such upper segment may be secured tooverlie the upper opening of the medial segment.

A vertical rotation shaft 22 having a male threaded lower end 24 ishelically threadedly received within the female helical threads 6 of thehollow bore 4 of the lower sleeve segment 2. Suitably, andalternatively, the complete vertical lengths of hollow bore 4 and shaft22 may be helically threaded. The lower end 28 of the screw shaft 22preferably includes an axial frictional pin or point 30 for securecentering engagement with an end of an axle shaft. The upper end of thescrew shaft 22 preferably includes an enlarged and non-circularlyfaceted head 26, such head advantageously functioning as a non-circularand rotation stopping pin half of the tool's upper pin-and-socket joint.

A first gear or drive gear 32 is preferably fixedly and axially mountedto the upper end of the sleeve's upper segment 18, such attachmentmechanically requiring that rotation of gear 32 simultaneously rotatesboth sleeve segment 18 and the screw head 26 which is captured withinsuch segment's downwardly opening void or socket 7.

A rigid frame 34 is preferably provided, such frame rotatably supportinga pinion gear or second gear 50. In the preferred embodiment, such rigidframe 34 comprises a lower clamshell half of an enclosed gear housing,the upper half of such housing and support frame member comprising a lidor cover 36. Fastening screws 48 securely interconnect the upper andlower halves 36 and 34 of the tool's housing frame member to define aninterior gear train encasing space 46.

To bolster the rotatable support of the first gear 32 which is providedby lower bearing 38, an upwardly extending journal axle 44 is provided,such axle being further rotatably supported by an upper bearing 40 whichis situated about an axle aperture 42 which centrally opens the upperhousing 36.

Similarly with the rotary support of the upper sleeve segment 18 and ofthe first gear 32 which is provided by bearings 38 and 40, bearings 52and 62 provide rotatable support to the second gear or pinion gear 50. Alower journal axle 54 extends downwardly from pinion gear 50 forrotating engagement with a lower bearing 52, and an upper stem axle 56extends axially upwardly therefrom from gear 50 through housing aperture60, such upwardly extending stem axle 56 being further rotatablysupported by an upper bearing 62. In a preferred embodiment, the upperend of stem 58 is hexagonally configured for engagement with the chuckof a drill or socket driver (not depicted within views). The housingframe 34,36 preferably includes a radially outward extension 51 whichexpands the interior space 46 to accommodate the operative radiallyouter positioning of the second gear 50.

Further components of the instant inventive tool comprise means forholding the apertured member immediately beneath the lower end of thetool 1. In a suitable embodiment, such means comprise an annularlyextending clamping ring 70 which presents an annular or circumferentialarray of set screws 74, such screws having allen wrench engaging socket75. In the alternative configuration of FIG. 5, all structuresidentified by a reference numeral having the suffix “A” are configuredsimilarly with similarly numbered structures appearing in FIGS. 1-4. Inthe FIG. 5 alternative, the apertured member holding means comprise acircumferential array of hook arms 80 and 88 whose proximal ends arepivotally mounted to the sleeve's lower segment 2A by pivot mounts 84,86and 92,94.

In operation of the FIG. 5 exemplary tool (and referring simultaneouslyto all figures), hooked distal ends 82 and 90 of hook arms 80 and 88 maybe positioned to engage the peripheral edge of a gear 100, as indicated.Thereafter, the sleeve's medial segment 14A may be slidably placed overthe upper end of the lower segment 2, such sliding attachmentsimultaneously engaging the head of the tool's screw 22 within thefaceted bore of upper segment 18. Thereafter, an electric drill may beattached to stem 56A. Operation of the drill simultaneously rotates andcounter rotates the stem 56A, the pinion gear 50, the main drive gear32, the upper sleeve segment 18, and the screw 22, such rotations beingwith respect to frame housing 34,36, medial sleeve segment 14, lowersleeve segment 2, and holding means 80,82,84,86,88,90,92,94, which arerelatively rotationally fixed. Such relative rotations advantageouslydownwardly drive the screw's biasing end 28A against axle 102, drivingsaid axle downwardly out of axle aperture 104 within gear 100.

A smaller disc shaped axle containing member configured similarly withgear 100 may be upwardly inserted into concavity 72 of the FIG. 3holding means alternative. Upon such insertion, the set screws 74 mayperform substantially the same function as hooks 82 and 90.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the aboveillustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modificationsto the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the inventionwithout departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intendedthat the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and notin the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scopecommensurate with the appended claims.

The invention hereby claimed is:
 1. A tool for driving a shaft, theshaft being received within an apertured member, the tool comprising:(a) a segmented sleeve comprising an upper segment, a lower segment, anda medial segment, each such segment having an upper end, a lower end,and a hollow bore, the hollow bore of the lower segment being helicallythreaded; (b) a screw mounted within the lower segment's hollow bore,the screw having an upper end and a shaft biasing lower end; (c) upperand lower joints, the upper joint connecting the upper end of the screwwith the upper segment, and the lower joint connecting the medialsegment with the lower segment; (d) a first gear fixedly attached to theupper segment; (e) a support frame fixedly attached to the medialsegment; (f) a second gear mounted rotatably upon the support frame, thesecond gear being positioned for, upon a rotation of the second gear,rotating the first gear; (g) a stem fixedly attached to the second gear;and (h) means for holding the apertured member, said means being adaptedfor positioning said member beneath the screw's shaft biasing lower end.2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the upper joint comprises an uppernon-circular pin-and-socket joint.
 3. The tool of claim 2 wherein thelower joint comprises a lower non-circular pin-and-socket joint.
 4. Thetool of claim 3 wherein the frame comprises a gear housing.
 5. The toolof claim 4 wherein the first gear and the upper segment are adapted forco-rotation within the gear housing and within the medial segment'shollow bore.
 6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the means for holding theapertured member comprise an annular clamp or a circumferential array ofhook arms.
 7. The tool of claim 6 wherein the upper non-circularpin-and-socket joint's socket is adapted for facilitating linear travelof said joint's pin.
 8. The tool of claim 7 wherein the lowernon-circular pin-and-socket joint's socket is adapted for linear travelof such joint's pin.